Packers pick is golden
By GERY WOELFEL
Green Bay – The Packers made their large contingent of fans at Thursday night’s NFL draft happy.
Very happy.
The Packers, with the 23rd overall pick, chose receiver Matthew Golden, a speed demon from Texas.
Packers fans have longed for their team to draft a receiver in the first round for much of the last two decades. They hadn’t selected a receiver since 2002. That’s when they tabbed Javon Walker.
Like passing on a receiver for more than two decades, the Packers almost exhausted the allotted 10-minutes before selecting Golden.
Golden, who was clearly the best receiver available, has a lot of positives to his game: He’s got high-end speed and is capable of playing inside or on the periphery.
Golden enhanced his draft stock at the NFL Combine, where he e was clocked at a swift 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash. That was the fastest time among players at his position and the second-fastest time for all players in attendance.
The Packers were searching for a receiver who could stretch the field, much like Christian Watson who suffered an ACL tear last season. It’s unknown when Watson will be able to return to action.
In selecting Golden, the Packers passed on several fine cornerbacks, including Will Johnson of Michigan, Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky and Shavon Revel of East Carolina, although each were plagued by injuries in college.
Golden, 21, began his collegiate career at Houston and caught38 passes in each of his two seasons with the Cougars. He then entered the portal and transferred to Texas.
In his lone season with the Longhorns, Golden had 58 receptions for 987 yards – a whopping 17 yards per catch – in 16 games. He recorded nine touchdown receptions.
Mark Murphy, the Packers outgoing president, publicly announced the team’s selection of Golden. The pro-Packers crowd immediately erupted with approval.
The draft resumes Friday night night.
